title: Social and cognitive variables predicting voluntary HIV counseling and testing among Tanzanian medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to predict Tanzanian medical students' Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) participation intention using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework. Further, differences between respondents who had previously participated in VCT and respondents who had not were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were gathered from 186 Tanzanian medical students using a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half of the respondents (43.3%) reported having been tested for HIV. A prediction model containing HBM and demographic variables explained 31% of the variance in VCT-participation intention. Self-efficacy, fear of being HIV-positive, and perceived susceptibility contributed significantly to the final regression model. In addition, respondents who had previously participated in VCT expressed less fear of being stigmatized and being HIV-positive than respondents who had not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fear of being HIV-positive, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and fear of being stigmatized were associated with either VCT-participation intention or previous participation. Further, the HBM accounted for a limited proportion of the explained variance in Tanzanian students' intention to participate in VCT. This suggests that the validity of the HBM in explaining HIV-preventive behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa should be questioned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions promoting VCT should incorporate program elements targeting self-efficacy, fear of being HIV-positive, perceived susceptibility and fear of being stigmatized.
authors.affiliation: VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. willemijn.vermeer@falw.vu.nl
authors.forename: Willemijn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.forename: Arjan E R
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mbwambo
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaaya
authors.forename: Herman P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schaalma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013636:Tanzania; D035141:Voluntary Programs